Long-bodied Cellar Spider, Daddy Long-legs Spider, Skull Spider
Pholcus phalangioides
Pholcidae (Cellar Spiders), Order Araneae. Key family characteristics include extremely long, delicate legs and an oval or elongated abdomen.
Physical Description
The spider has a small, oval cephalothorax and a distinctly elongated, cylindrical abdomen. It appears delicate and fragile, with a translucent or pale brownish body and exceptionally long, thin legs that span much wider than the body.
Size Estimate
Body length is typically 7-10 mm, with a leg span reaching up to 50 mm (about 2 inches). This specimen appears to be an adult.
Coloration & Markings
Pale yellow, beige, or light greyish-brown overall. The cephalothorax often features a faint darker marking, and the abdomen may have subtle greyish or whitish spots.
Web Type
Irregular tangle webs, often called space webs or cobwebs, built in dark, protected corners, cellars, and ceilings. These webs are not sticky but rely on entanglement.
Eye Arrangement
Arranged in three groups: a cluster of two smaller eyes in the middle and a triplet on each side (diad-triad arrangement), totaling eight eyes.
Leg Characteristics
Extremely long, thin, and fragile legs with minor variations in thickness. They lack heavy spination and often vibrate rapidly when disturbed as a defensive strategy.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Contains a mild neurotoxin primarily effective against small insect prey. It poses no physiological threat to humans.
Medical Significance
Harmless to humans. Their chelicerae are generally too weak or too short to puncture human skin, and even if successful, the venom causes no medically significant effects.
Safety Recommendations
No safety measures needed as they are completely harmless. If unwanted, they can be gently relocated using a cup and a piece of paper.
Habitat & Behavior
Habitat & Range
Cosmopolitan distribution worldwide, heavily associated with human habitations, basements, cellars, crawlspaces, and dark corners of rooms.
Behavior & Temperament
Docile and non-aggressive. When disturbed, they perform a rapid vibrating or bouncing motion in their web to blur their image and confuse predators.
Diet & Prey
Insects and other spiders, famously including larger spiders like widow spiders and hobo spiders, which they successfully hunt and consume by wrapping them in silk at a distance.
Seasonal Activity
Active year-round indoors, as they benefit from the climate-controlled environment of human homes.
Description
The Long-bodied Cellar Spider is a familiar household guest, easily recognized by its extremely long, thread-like legs and unassuming presence in dark corners. Though often mistaken for harvestmen, these true spiders are beneficial indoor predators.
Key Features
Extremely long thin legs, elongated cylindrical abdomen, pale tan coloration, and the habit of vibrating rapidly when disturbed.
Similar Species
Harvestmen (Order Opiliones, commonly also called daddy long-legs) which lack a divided body structure and silk glands; cellar spiders of other genera like Holocnemus.
Life Cycle
Females carry eggs in a loose silk cluster held in their chelicerae until they hatch. Spiderlings undergo several molts before reaching maturity, with a total lifespan of up to 3 years.
Ecological Importance
Act as natural pest controllers inside homes by consuming nuisance insects and even other potentially problematic spiders.
Conservation Status
Not evaluated by the IUCN, highly secure and thriving globally alongside human settlements.
Interesting Facts
Despite an urban legend claiming they possess the most potent venom of any spider, this is entirely false; their mouthparts are barely capable of biting humans.
Photography Tips
Use macro photography with soft, diffused lighting to capture the delicate leg structure and eye arrangement without disturbing the spider into its vibration defense.
User Notes
In home
Identified: 2026-08-10T01:50:38.870921